Here’s who’s on the missing submarine
A crew of five, including a pilot and four others, was aboard the Titan submarine when it lost contact with its support ship while diving to the wreckage of the Titanic in the North Atlantic on Sunday.
Here are the passengers who have been confirmed to have been aboard the missing vessel.
Hamish Harding
Hamish Harding, a British businessman and explorer, was among those aboard the submarine, according to Mark Butler, the general manager of Mr Harding’s company, Action Aviation.
Mr Harding, 58, holder of several Guinness World Records, including one for the longest time spent traversing the deepest part of the ocean in a single dive, wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday that he was proud to finally announce that he joins OceanGate’s mission “on the submarine descending to the Titanic.”
Mr. Harding is the Chairman of Action Aviation, a sales and aviation company based in Dubai. He had previously flown to space on a mission from Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin rocket company.
Mr Harding also took part in an effort to reintroduce cheetahs to India, and holds a world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth through both geographic poles by air.
In a Instagram message on Saturday with photos of the submarine and of him signing a flag for the Titanic mission, he wrote that the group had departed from St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, on Friday and planned to begin dive operations on Sunday around 4 a.m. to start.
Despite winter being particularly harsh in Newfoundland this year, “a weather window has just opened,” he added.
Paul Henri Nargeolet
Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a French maritime expert who has made more than 35 dives to the Titanic wreck, is one of five people aboard the submarine who has been missing since Sunday, said Mathieu Johann, an agent of Mr Nargeolet .
Mr. Nargeolet is the director of underwater research for RMS Titanic, Inc., an American company that owns the salvage rights to the famous wreck and displays many of the artifacts in Titanic exhibits. The company conducted eight survey and salvage expeditions between 1987 and 2010, according to its website, and Mr. Nargeolet has participated in more than 35 dives to the wreck site.
Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood
British businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman are among those aboard the missing submarine, according to a statement from the Engro Corporation, whose Mr. Dawood is vice chairman. Mr. Dawood is a scion of one of Pakistan’s wealthiest families, with a background in textile and fertilizer production.
Mr Dawood and his son had “embarked on a journey to visit the remains of the Titanic” when contact with the ship was lost, the statement said, asking for prayers for their safe return and privacy for the family.
Mr. Dawood also serves on the board of directors of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute. The organisation said on its website that he was a native of Great Britain and the father of two children.